Three Bloch School professors named among top 50 innovation management scholars

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) today announced that it has been ranked as the world’s No. 1 university in innovation management research by the Journal of Product Innovation Management.

A total of 625 universities were ranked – including MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Michigan State and Texas A&M – on research topics and current trends in the field of innovation management. The ranking will be published in the March 2012 issue of the journal.

“We are extremely proud to hold the No. 1 spot in the world for innovation management research,” said UMKC Chancellor Leo E. Morton. “UMKC aligns with the Kansas City community’s commitment to becoming the most entrepreneurial city in the nation through our focus on entrepreneurship across all campus disciplines.”

The results were driven by the research of three UMKC faculty – Michael Song, Ph.D., Mark Parry, Ph.D., and Lisa Zhao, Ph.D. – in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management‘s (Bloch School) Department for Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The three faculty also were listed among the top 50 innovation management scholars, with Michael Song ranking No. 1 in the world.

The study describes innovation management research covering topics related to product, firm strategy, product development process and market environment factors.

For example, Michael Song and Mark Parry have conducted a series of research projects examining new product development in China, Japan and the U.S. Their work has been recognized by the American Marketing Association for significantly influencing the direction of global marketing. Lisa Zhao’s work is focused on product pioneering, first product development and new venture survival.

“The research of top scholars, such as Song and Parry, is significant to our students, region and economy.” said Bloch School Dean Teng-Kee Tan. “The results of this research expedite the success rate of new ventures or innovation within existing companies. Having the best university in the world for innovation management research attracts talent to, and keeps talent in, the Kansas City region.”

The international rankings honor is the latest in a series of major announcements connected to the Bloch School of Management. In September, UMKC received a $32 million gift from Henry W. Bloch to fund a state-of-the-art building to house the Bloch School’s graduate and executive programs, which will accommodate additional students into these programs. Also, The Princeton Review recognized the Bloch School’s undergraduate and graduate programs among the top 25 entrepreneurship programs in the country — one of the 11 schools nationwide with both programs included in this ranking.

About UMKC

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.